STATE OF MINNESOTA FOURTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 12:45 P.M. on Thursday, January 18, 2007, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Dettmer, Bob
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
McFarlane, Carol
Mahoney, Tim
Moe, Frank
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Ruth, Connie
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Clark, Karen
A quorum was present.
Representative Haws moved that the minutes of January 16, 2007 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Rukavina invited the students present to begin their testimony, as follows:
Dauline Menze, a student at the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus, provided testimony regarding her personal experiences with Minnesota's higher education and financial aid systems. Ms. Menze responded to questions from members.
Kristen Farmer and Escillia Allen, students at the University of Minnesota, Morris campus, provided testimony regarding their personal experiences with Minnesota's higher education and financial aid systems. Ms. Farmer and Ms. Allen responded to questions from members.
Fredrick "Will" Kellogg and Chris Brinkman, students at the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus, provided testimony regarding their personal experiences with Minnesota's higher education and financial aid systems. Mr. Kellogg and Mr. Brinkman responded to questions from members.
Max Page and Monica Heth, students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, provided testimony regarding their personal experiences with Minnesota's higher education and financial aid systems. Mr. Page and Ms. Heth responded to questions from members.
Vice Chair Poppe assumed the chair at 1:35 P.M.
Aeleah Soine, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, provided testimony regarding her personal experiences with Minnesota's higher education and financial aid systems. Ms. Soine responded to questions from members.
Further questions and discussion followed.
HF 40 (Thissen)
Chair Rukavina moved that HF 40 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Division.
Representative Thissen presented HF 40, a bill for an act relating to taxes; providing a credit for employer postsecondary education expenses; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 290.06; by adding a subdivision. Discussion followed.
Representative Hortman moved to amend HF 40 as follows:
Page 1, line 13, delete "12" and insert "20"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Further discussion followed.
Representative Norton moved to amend HF 40 as follows:
Page 1, line 10, after "of" insert "undergraduate"
Page 1, line 16, delete everything after "Code" and insert "."
Page 1, delete line 17
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Further questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina renewed his motion that HF 40, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant